tyla homepage
  • News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
iPhone users warned over four characters of doom you should never type

Home> Life

Published 14:54 23 Aug 2024 GMT+1

iPhone users warned over four characters of doom you should never type

Apple has yet to address the bizarre iPhone bug

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image/Tyla

Topics: Apple, iPhone, Technology

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

iPhone users have this week been left baffled after discovering that a bug which has the ability to crash your device can be caused by typing just four characters.

Back in June, iPhone holders were advised not to download the latest beta iOS 18 update from the tech firm itself, amid fears it could contain bugs.

Weeks later, iPhone owners who are guilty of leaving their phone to charge overnight while they sleep were issued an extremely harrowing warning by health experts.

Several users have been left baffled by the bug. (Oscar Wong/Getty)
Several users have been left baffled by the bug. (Oscar Wong/Getty)

Advert

And just last week, some users were horrified to discover the existence of a 'vampire setting', which had been draining their mobile phones of precious battery.

However this week, a batch of Apple customers have discovered an apparent bug on their device.

The bizarre discovery has somehow been found by users who took a chance at typing a very specific four characters into two even more particular search bars.

The four doomed characters are "":: and users can't believe why. (Tyla)
The four doomed characters are "":: and users can't believe why. (Tyla)

What are the 'doomed' letters?

Well, it's two double-quotation marks, followed by two colons, typed consecutively with no spaces between.

Basically, this - ""::

Where shouldn't you type them?

As we say, these letters won't pose any issue to your device if you type them into a text to someone, or you search the characters on Safari.

There are two places within your iPhone, however, that you absolutely want to avoid typing them into.

The first being that search bar that appears when you open up your Settings, and the second being the app library search's bar, which you can access by swiping all the way to the right of your screen.

What happens if you do it?

Whilst your device might not burst into flames, or never turn back on again, doing this can actually briefly crash the system.

The bug turns users' screens black. (FreshSplash/Getty)
The bug turns users' screens black. (FreshSplash/Getty)

Those of you brave enough to try it out will notice your iPhone screen turn black, before a tiny loading wheel appears, and you home screen pops back up.

And though this 'bug' mightn't sound too dramatic, being that iPhones now commonly hold vital information - bank details, home information, vital emails - some users are worried that this glitch might have more serious consequences.

Thankfully, however, according to tech experts at TechCrunch - who spoke to The Sun this week - there is no indication that this does pose a threat to security, and isn't something we should worry too much about.

Tyla contacted Apple for comment.

Choose your content:

2 days ago
3 days ago
  • Getty Stock Images
    2 days ago

    Cardiologist reveals six things you should ‘never’ do after 6pm

    Your evening routine could be affecting your heart more than you think

    Life
  • Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
    2 days ago

    STI unknown to most people is nearly as common as chlamydia

    Mycoplasma genitalium, or Mgen, affects 2 per cent of sexually-active Brits per year

    Life
  • Getty Stock Image
    2 days ago

    You can actually earn shocking amount of money to sell your poo

    Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) could see you take home a whopping £900 ($1,209) in a single month

    Life
  • Getty Stock Image
    3 days ago

    Why everyone is all of a sudden getting the ‘chicken ick’

    The 'chicken ick' has taken over social media - here's why it's happening to you and how to get over it

    Life
  • iPhone users horrified after realising what Apple Face ID 'sees'
  • Worrying reason you should never charge your phone at an airport
  • Doctor warns of 7 'normal' symptoms you should never ignore
  • List of medications you should never mix ibuprofen or paracetamol with